Captain Nathaniel Mendez-Laing scored his first goal of the season as Derby picked up another point away to Oxford.
The two newly promoted sides have had surprisingly good starts to the season and couldn’t be separated in a poor game at the Kassam Stadium.
Paul Warne made four changes to the side that drew at The Den three days earlier, including reinstating Mendez-Laing to the starting XI.
The singular change made by Oxford boss Des Buckingham was similarly successful, Dane Scarlett leading the line for the U’s after earning them a point at West Brom. Just 12 minutes in, the Tottenham loanee would make it two goals in as many games.
The hosts had been passing the ball around comfortably in Derby’s half before an inch-perfect ball across the box from El Mizouni was placed out of Zetterström’s reach and into the bottom right corner by Scarlett.
After an uneventful start, the goal seemed to awaken Derby, Mendez-Laing seeing a shot blocked before Kane Wilson’s effort went out for a corner in the 15th minute.
Ebou Adams had a busy evening, covering practically every blade of grass despite being in the most advanced role of Derby’s three midfielders. But for all his energy, the Gambian’s end product was lacking, as was shown when he won the ball back high up the pitch, only to snatch at a shot and fire wide from 25 yards.
The Rams had most of the ball after conceding but were struggled to string together coherent moves as they entered the final third, while Oxford’s wingers were slicing them open.
On the right, Tyler Goodrham was a constant threat throughout the first half and was begging for someone to arrive at the back post after he sprinted past Callum Elder and flashed the ball across goal.
With five minutes of the half to play, Goodrham gave the ball away in the final third. Will Vaulks won it back from Ben Osborn though, and slid in Goodrham, whose effort from distance whistled past the post.
Derby started the second half well, Corey Blackett-Taylor getting in behind the Oxford defence to cut the ball back for Goudmijn, but the dutchman’s shot lacked power and was easily blocked by Ben Nelson.
The Rams’ equaliser came from very little, Will Vaulks’ pass back to Ciaron Brown seized by the responsive Jerry Yates who squared the ball to Mendez-Laing just inside the box before the number 11 drilled a shot low across goal into the bottom left corner.
Derby academy graduate Louie Sibley was facing his boyhood club for the first time and forced a save from Zetterström with a volley on the turn from 25 yards.
Oxford had their best spell of an otherwise poor second half in the final ten minutes, but like Derby, never looked like finding a winner.
Analysis: Initially ‘horrific’ then ‘significantly better’.
Paul Warne described his side’s first half performance as ‘horrific’, saying that he “could have made 11 subs at half-time.” It’s a fair comment – his side weren’t coherent.
He did pinpoint a tactical error that was a contributing factor. Ebou Adams played in the ‘10’ role in the first half, with Kenzo Goudmijn, who was carrying a knock, in a deeper role.
Whilst Adams’ energy did help limit the influence of Will Vaulks, and didn’t harm the Rams’ press with the midfielder still managing to cover an awful lot of ground, it was clear that he isn’t as natural in that advanced role, with less consistency in his end product.
Carrying a knock, Kenzo Goudmijn struggled to influence the game. The midfielder shouldn’t be expected to be physically dominant at the best of times and was outmuscled on a number of occasions. While the Dutchman’s superb range of passing could be a real asset when Derby look to dictate play, it is irrelevant if he cannot have time on the ball, which he does have more of with an enforcer such as Adams or David Ozoh alongside him. Sacrificing his guile in the final third clearly isn’t worth it.
After the break, Derby were better, and after drawing level, looked a different side, their play in the final third was sharper and they were winning loose balls. Had they played at this level for the entire game, they would likely now have their first away win of the season.
It is worth noting that Oxford didn’t have a great night either but managed to maintain their unbeaten home record. In the first half, there was some of the fluid passing play that has won Des Buckingham’s side many plaudits, they did not look like the same well-oiled machine.
It was the epitome of the cliché game of two halves, with both sets of fans wishing their side could have been consistent over 90 minutes. For Derby, that consistency has been evident at home, and having finally picked up a couple of points away from Pride Park.
In three of their first four away games, Derby performed well against good sides but went home empty handed. Based on their performance at The Den three days earlier, and in the second half in Oxfordshire, maybe things are slowly starting to come together when Paul Warne takes his squad on their travels?
Oxford (4-3-3): Cumming (GK), Kioso, Moore (C), Nelson, Brown; Vaulks (McEachran 68’), Rodrigues (Leigh 85’), El Mizouni (Sibley 68’); Goodrham, Scarlett (Harris 62’), Dembele (Dale 46’).
Substitutes not used: Ingram (GK), ter Avest, Long, Ebiowei.
Derby (4-3-3): Zetterström (GK); Wilson, Nelson, Cashin, Elder; Adams, Goudmijn (Harness 57’), Osborn; Mendez-Laing (C) (Phillips 89’), Yates (Collins 89’), Blackett-Taylor (Jackson 57’).
Substitutes not used: Vickers (GK), Forsyth, Ward, Bradley, Brown.
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